Fight Against Doping -- Hansen Appeals Loss of Medal

Tony Andre Hansen is appealing to CAS to get his medal back from the Beijing Olympics. (Getty Images) Hansen Appeals Medal Loss

Norwegian rider Tony Andre Hansen, who lost his bronze medal from Beijing after he was found to have doped his horse Camiro, is appealing the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Hansen was disqualified from the Games and banned for four-and-one-half months when Camiro returned elevated levels of Capsaicin.

"Hansen has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the decision rendered by the Tribunal of the International Equestrian Federation," CAS said in a statement.

"The athlete requests the annulment of the FEI decision."

CAS typically rules on cases within six months of their filing.

Capsaicin is often used in horses for its pain relieving properties. Six horses in total failed drug tests during the Beijing Olympics.

Spain to Reopen Puerto Investigation

The largest doping investigation in Spanish history is set to be reopened after reports that public health laws had been broken.

According to an Agence French Presse report that came out on Wednesday, a provincial court in Spain reneged on its September decision to close the case.

Public prosecutors, the Spanish Sports Council (CSD), the Spanish Cycling Federation, the International Cycling Union and the World Anti-Doping Agency were some of the groups demanding the Spanish government reopen the case.

International Cycling President Pat MacQuaid praised the decision saying justice may now be served. "We hope that this time he (the judge) will see it out right to the end. If there are cyclists involved in this affair we have to have the possibility to punish them."

Eufemiano Fuentes, a Spanish doctor, was alleged to have been the mastermind behind a massive ring of blood doping - helping endurance athletes, such as cyclists, dope. The investigation began in May 2006 when police raided the doctor’s lab and found doping products and 100 blood doping bags.

The investigation initially implicated 200 athletes but in the end focused on around five dozen cyclists.

New Anti-Doping Standards for UK Athletics

UK Athletics adopted new anti-doping standards on Friday. The measures came from Tanni Grey-Thompson’s review of UKA’s doping policies.

Athletes who miss a drug tests will be fined more than $1,000 if the miss a drug test or fail to update the authorities on there whereabouts. Additionally, UKA can ban athletes for a year if the organization feels the athletes are not committed to a clean sport.

Dame Tanni, who has conducted the review over six months, said in a statement on UKA’s Web site: “What was very clear from the review was that internationally we are all operating at very different standards and UKA needs to continue to lobby to achieve harmonization of tough standards. There was also widespread support, especially from current athletes, for a longer four-year ban, and this is something we need to collectively push for. What the sport wants to do and what it is able to do legally are often at conflict. Athletics has to operate within international laws, however insufficient it may view them as.

Niels de Vos, UKA chief executive, added: “I and the UKA Board would like to place on record our thanks to Tanni and the panel for giving their valuable time to this review. We will adopt all 22 of the recommendations which fulfill my original objectives of tightening up our rules and procedures to ensure absolute clarity amongst all athletes as to the consequences of taking performance-enhancing drugs.

“The recommendations made by this review mean that any athlete stupid enough to do so will not only destroy their career as an athlete, but also any future career in the sport as an administrator or coach – the deterrent just got much stronger.”

…Briefs

…Angola ratified the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport last week. Angola Olympic Committee President Gustavo da Concecao said adopting the convention was important for Angola. “We are anxious as this measures [sic] are absolutely opportune; Lance Armstrong says that people should let former teammate Floyd Landis be. (JAMIE MCDONALD/AFP/Getty Images)places us on the list of countries that attach a special attention to the fight against doping," he said.

…Lance Armstrong says his former teammate, Floyd Landis has served his penalty and people need to let him be. "People serve their time just like everybody else. Once their time is up they get to go back to work," Armstrong said. "Sometimes I get frustrated when people will pooh-pooh his return, when you are going to stand up and cheer when David Millar returns. It is the same thing. You serve your suspension, get back up on the bike, and let's race." Landis was handed a two-year suspension after testing positive for the banned substance EPO in 2006.

…USA Track and Field CEO Doug Logan had harsh words for nutritional supplement manufacturers, accusing them of adding to the demise of athletics. "Performance-enhancing drugs are threatening to choke the life out of the sport that I serve and love," he said. "And in many ways, the supplement industry has been assisting in braiding the noose. Logan added that athletes who get caught doping use tainted supplements as an excuse.

Media Watch

The BBC has a report on how a “key weapon” in thefight against doping will be challenged in a Belgian court.

Deustch Welle has a report on the German National Anti Doping Agency educating young athletes on doping>

The Evening Standard lists the “top 10 sensational drug scandals in sport.”

Jonathan Littman has a special report for Yahoo! Sports on Marion Jones.

Written by Ed Hula III.